By: Elli Martin, GAC Class of 2026

Something we’ve done in Student Ministry class that has made a lasting impression on me is “Fall Fresh On Us Fridays.” On Fridays, the class engages in a short time of musical worship with reflection and prayer. This experience is unique to anything else I have ever been exposed to; in church, of course, we engage in worship together, but it is in a larger and less personalized setting. On Fridays, however, since we have a smaller, class- sized group, we are able to be more intimate and vulnerable with each other. This contrasts significantly with how many people feel like they have to put up a facade or keep their guard up at school from fear of condescension. In this class, the atmosphere seems to change as we can all let go of our inhibitions and freely express ourselves, praising God in whatever manner we feel like. Whether we raise our hands or keep them by our sides, sing loudly or mouth the words, keep our eyes open or closed, we all respect each other’s unique forms of worship and feel at liberty to practice our own.

Not only is this openness of community and lack of judgment refreshing, but the music itself also profoundly moves me. When I hear all of our voices mingling together, the strum of the guitar, the keys of the piano, and the rhythm of the notes, I find myself in awe of the miraculous and unexpected ways God works in my life. What started out as a normal Friday at school quickly becomes a spiritually awakening experience as I hear the Holy Spirit through the gift of sound. What I hear during these songs doesn’t simply register in my ears, but resonates deep within my heart and my soul. I have always had a great reverence and appreciation for musical performance and the emotions that it is able to evoke, but it is particularly impactful when I am the one working with others to create a beautiful harmony and experience the feelings it elicits on a deeper level.

While the people who surround me and the music that we hear are both aspects of “Fall Fresh On Us Fridays,” at the core of this weekly tradition are the implications of the song lyrics themselves. They are based directly off of themes and/or stories found in God’s word, and it feels incredibly fulfilling to be able to connect what I know from Bible classes, Sunday schools, and church services to the words of the songs we sing. When I read the Bible, often some of the phrases and terms used within the verses go over my head, but these songs structure them in a way that I can more easily understand and relate to. It is also very refreshing to me how the lyrics reframe messages that may have become hackneyed to me since I have heard them repeatedly throughout my life– being raised in a Christian household and community since birth– and portray them in a new, interesting light. A perfect example of this can be found in Elevation Worship’s “Graves into Gardens,” in which one of the lines says: “You turn seas into highways.” This provides a fresh, modern twist on the story of the Red Sea that I learned about at such a young age, making it stand out and be more appealing to me.

Ultimately, “Fall Fresh On Us Fridays” has not only enriched my school days, but illuminated the rest of my life and encouraged me to prioritize my faith in all areas. It has provided me with an invaluable opportunity to fellowship and grow with my peers, renewed my love for music, and allowed me to truly internalize what God speaks into my life.